Method of treating a growing crop



Oct. 27, 1970 H. P. OLMO ETA!- 3,535,856

METHOD OF TREATING A GROWING CROP- Original Filed Jan. 11, 1967 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR5 fine-aw I? 0LMO Hewm 5 51-0052 Oct. 27, 1970QLMO ETAL 3,535,856

METHOD OF TREATING A GROWING CROP Original Filed Jan. ll, 1967 v 3Sheets-Sheet 2 7/ WT" I -3 O 7 F G INVENTOR5 Hanan I? OM40 Have 551-0052 Oct. 27, .1970 H. P. O LMO ,53

I METHOD OF TfiEATING A GROWING CROP 7 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1967 3Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS F I G- 5 #40040 I? 04M0 mwerfiirwie UnitedStates Patent 3,535,856 METHOD OF TREATING A GROWING CROP Harold P. Olmoand Henry E. Studer, Davis, Calif., .as-

signors to The Regents of the University of California, Berkeley, Calif.

Application Jan. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 608,573, now Patent No. 3,492,801,which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 514,049, Dec.15, 1965. Divided and this application Jan. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 821,529

Int. Cl. A01g 19/00 US. Cl. 56-1 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Afruiting cane, selected from grape vine shoots specially cultivated thepreceding year, is trained on a horizontal wire. The growing grapebunches depend therefrom. The cane is severed from the vine several daysprior to harvest. A machine travelling along the fruiting cane has atransversely disposed, circularly moving batch that appears through anupright slot in a vertical shield adjacent the fruiting cane, travelsupwardly and abruptly strikes the wire or severed fruiting cane anddisappears behind the shield. The baton blows detach the partially driedgrapes and they fall into a receiver.

This application is a division of our application Ser. No. 608,573, nowPat. 3,492,801, filed Jan. 11, 1967, which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 514,049, now Pat.3,490,217, filed Dec. 15, 1965.

- In the cultivation of grapes for harvest on a widespread or commercialscale there is a distinct need, whether the grapes are to be dried asraisins or are to be retrieved for crushing, for getting the bunches andgrape berries from the vines with minimum use of hand labor. There isalso a need for retrieving the grapes in a condition so that they canreadily be handled without substantial deterioration or spoilage. Thereis also a general need for improved growing and harvesting of grapes.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a method of growingand harvesting grapes and a mechanism for doing so to reduce the amountof hand labor required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of harvestinggrapes, involving severing the fruiting canes from the vine, in afashion to assist in retrieving the grapes in a satisfactory condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of growing grapesso that they are well adapted to machine harvest.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of growinggrapes which exposes the grape bunches for ready harvest and does notinjure the vines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ma- Chine which can beadvanced in a field in which grapes are growing and which will readilydetach the fruit from the vines without becoming entangled in the vinesor having its progress impeded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for harvestinggrapes in which an abrupt acceleration of the vine is accomplished by aportion of the machine which is readily advanced toward and retractedfrom the vine.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the practiceof the method pursuant to the invention and in a form of the machinepursuant to the invention as set forth in the accompanying descriptionand as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic showing, largely in isometric perspective, of aportion of a vineyard in which the grape harvesting method is practicedin part by a machine having portions shown in block form;

FIG. 2 is a plan of a portion of the harvesting machine disclosed inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section, the planes of which are indicated by thelines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine as shown in FIG.2, the structure being oriented to produce projection of the batonmechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the mechanism arrangedfor operation of the baton in a retracted position.

As partly disclosed in our application Ser. No 514,049, we preferablyemploy our method and machine in con nection with the harvesting ofgrapes which, for example, grow in a field or vineyard 6 in which anindividual one of many grape vines 7 is trained to grow alongside one ofa row of posts 8. The vine 7 during one season is particularly trainedto afford a number of new shoots 9 for use in the succeeding season. Theshoots 9 are restricted to any desired number, usually four or so, andare permitted to grow generally upwardly and outwardly from the vine 7.During a part of the culture season the shoots are stripped of anyblossoms and excess fruiting material. This is sometimes accomplished byremoving the flowers and also may be accomplished by treating them withchemicals so that they do not develop. During this growing season theshoots 9 are simply allowed to develop and extend themselves without inany way producing any fruit.

During the next season, some of these shoots from the preceding seasonare curved and bent to lie alongside and be twined around or fastened toa horizontal trellis wire 11. In some instances the post 8 carries across arm at the top to support wires on either side of the post. Thatcan be done in accordance with our method, but in the present instancewe prefer simply to provide the post with a support 12 having ahorizontally opening hook 13 thereon in which the wire 11 customarily issuppported. The various posts 8 are sufliciently close together so thatthe wire 11 can readily be strung from one to the other. When the vineshave substantially developed, the support is enough to avoid unduesagging of the wire and the vine or vines trained therealong.

The shoots trained along the wire 11 are preferably those growingadjacent the top of the vine 7 and are conveniently directed in one orboth directions away from the post 8. As the shoots develop, they becomefruiting canes 16 having foliage. They ultimately develop clusters orbunches of grapes 14. These may start in random directions around thefruiting canes 16, but as they develop and get heavier the bunches tendto hang straight downwardly by gravity substantially as shown.

At about the time the grape clusters or bunches have developed and areready for harvesting, the fruiting canes 16 are separated from the vine7 by severing. This leaves the stubs 18 of the fruiting canes completelydetached and distinct from the remainder of the canes 16. While it v ispossible immediately to harvest the grapes, we have found that for manyuses, particularly for raisins and for crushing, it is beneficial toleave the severed fruiting canes in place on the wire and undisturbedfor from one day to about seven days. During this time the grape berriesthemselves tend partially to dehydrate and to become somewhat less crispor more resilient than usual so that they better withstand subsequentfalling and handling. Also, the cap stem of each berry tends to dryslightly and partially to shrivel. The drying cap stem becomes quiteweak and readily shatters under a substantial force, thus freeing theberry. The partial field dehydration of the berries, of the associatedcap stems and of part of the fruiting canes also is beneficial in thatsimultaneous de tachment of all of the fruit from the fruiting canes isenhanced.

As a suitable device for automatically detaching the partly driedberries and bunches from the fruiting canes, we provide a machine foradvancement along the row in the vineyard; that is, alongside thefruiting canes in a generally horizontal direction. A suitable machineincludes a carriage 21 supported on ground-engaging wheels 22. Thecarriage has a draft frame 23 for attachment to any suitable draftvehicle, such as a tractor, effective to advance the carriage 21 in thefield 6 in the direction of the arrow 24.

The machine carriage has a supporting frame 26 of appropriate structuralshapes and includes a mounting plate 27 hearing against a support plate28 forming part of a side frame 29 of the carriage. The plates 27 and 28are held in thrust relationship by a central pivot pin 31 allowinglimited rotation about a transversely extending axis 32. Any selectedorientation of the plate 27 and so of the support frame 26 with respectto the carriage frame 21 is arranged by pivoting the plate 27 about theaxis 32. The plates 27 and 28 are then locked in position by use of aclamp bolt 33 fixed in the plate 28 and extending through an arcuateslot 34 in the plate 27.

The supporting frame 26 has a pair of transversely extending arms 36 and37. On the arms and in alignment on a longitudinally extending axis 38is a pair of drive shafts 39 and 41 mounted in journals 42 and 43 sothat the shafts 39 and 41 can rotate about the axis 38. The adjacentends of the shafts 39 and 41 terminate in disks 46 and 47 to whichdiametrically extending crank plates 48 and 49 are secured by bolts 51.The plates 48 and 49 at one end are joined by a cross member 52 and atthe other end carry journals 53 and 54. The crank plates 48 and 49 withtheir associated structure constitute a baton frame.

Mounted in the journals 53 and 54 are baton shafts 56 and 57 aligned ona baton axis 58 parallel with the axis 38. The adjacent ends of thebaton shafts are provided with securing plates 59 and 61 secured to acentral, baton block 62. Extending through the block 62, usually along agenerally transverse axis 63, is a baton 64. This is preferably a rodthreaded into the block 62 and locked in adjusted position by a jam nut65. The baton 64 is preferably tapered from a position adjacent the jamnut 65 to its outer end 66. On the part of the baton extending from theother side of the block 62 there is threaded a counterweight 67. Thiscan be radially adjusted and finally locked in position by a jam nut 68.The baton thus is balanced about the baton axis 58.

The baton frame and some connected parts are counterbalanced about theaxis 38 not only by the cross bar 52 but also by counterweights 69 and71 on the plates 48 and 49. The connected shafts 39 and 41 aresimultaneously rotated by a drive belt 72 entrained about a pulley 74 onthe shaft and also around a pulley 73 on a drive motor 76 appropriatelymounted on the frame 26. When the motor 76 is energized, the pulleys 73and 74 are revolved and the entire baton frame is rotated in balancedcondition about the axis 38.

Means are particularly provided for moving the baton in a path so thatthe baton is always parallel to itself. That is, any point on the batonmoves in a circle. Furthermore, the baton is provided with means forestablishing a selected orientation in any one of a number of polarpositions. For that reason, the baton shafts 56 and 57 at their outerends carry planet gears 81 and 82 fast to the shafts and concentric withthe axis 58. The planet gears are contoured to engage with timing belts83 and 84 also encompassing appropriately contoured sun gears 86 and 87journalled on the shafts 39 and 41 so as to be concentric with the axis38. The sun gears are of the same pitch diameter as the planet gears 81and 82.

The sun gears 86 and 87 are fast on hubs 91 and 92 from which radialtorque arms 93 and 94 extend. Connected by pivot pins 96 and 97 to thearms are piston rods 98 and 99 of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 101 and102 hydraulically connected in parallel. Pivots 103 and 104 join thecylinders to brackets 106 and 107 upstanding from the frame arms 36 and37. The arms 93 and 94 are thus held by the hydraulic mechanisms 101 and102 in any set position of orientation around the axis 38 betweenrelatively wide limits; for example, between limits ninety degreesapart. In one position of the baton structure, particularly as shown inFIG. 5, the mechanism rotates with the baton 64 so oriented that thebaton is disposed approximately vertically and does not projectlaterally beyond the rotational path of the frame plates 48 and 49. Inanother condition of the structure as shown in FIG. 4, when thehydraulic members 101 and 102 are in their other extreme position, thesun gears 86 and 87 are rotated about ninety degrees around the axis 38and this, through the interconnection of the timing belts 83 and 84,moves the baton 63 into a generally horizontal position. The baton thenprojects laterally beyond the frame plates 48 and 49 as it rotates.

When the motor 76 is energized and the baton is horizontal, the batonmoves in an arcuate path 108, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with a generallyoutward, upward and then inward movement. The baton excursion orprojection is preferably of a sulficient extent so that the batonextends well into the growing vine structure. The vine is somewhatconfined and positioned by a guard plate 111 or shield mounted on thesupporting frame 26 and extending in a longitudinal fore and aftdirection, the plane of the plate 111 being generally vertical. Theleading portion of the guard plate 111 is preferably shaped to afford acurved nose 112 so that as the carriage advances, the projectingportions of the vine tend to rest against and be confined by the plate111. The plate extends ahead of and behind the baton and has a slot 113to pass the baton. In the normal setting of the machine, the slot 113 isinclined somewhat by rocking the plate 27 with respect to the plate 28.As the carriage 21 advances, the actual direction of motion of the batonis inclined to the vertical but affords in effect a vertical contactwith the grape vine.

In the operation of this structure, it is preferred to start sometimeafter the fruiting canes 16 have been severed and to arrange the machineto travel alongside the wire with the shield or guard plate 111 crowdedwell into the vine. Also, the vine itself is preferably brought out fromthe supporting bracket 12 so that it extends freely and some distanceaway from its growing location next to the post 8. The severed fruitingcanes are easily moved, with the wire, through the requisite distance.This change in cane location is for the purpose of disposing the grapeclusters above a receiving trough -121 on the carriage 21 and having abelt conevyor 122 therein. A trough side 123 lies under the grapes todirect them toward the conveyor belt 122. From one end of the conveyorbelt an elevator conveyor belt 124 on an inclined frame 126 extendstransversely across the machine to an appropriate receiving receptacle127.

After positioning of the machine and removal of the wire 11 and thefruiting canes from the supporting hooks, the machine advances as therapidly operating baton repeatedly moves outwardly and upwardly tostrike the wire 11 and particularly the fruiting canes 16. These arelifted or moved in an upward direction before the baton then retractsthrough the slot and behind the shield. The baton thus gives repeatedblows against the wire and vine, tending to accelerate the wire and vineupwardly very quickly. The amount of upward baton travel is sufficientto take care of the usual amount of sag of the loaded wire. The grapesand the clusters have been partially dried and the cap stems are quiteWeak because of the dehydration following severing of the fruitingcanes. The baton blows thus readily dislodge the grapes, almost all ofwhich detach as individuals and fall easily into the trough and travelalong the belt 122. Some clusters, stems and leaves also are dislodgedand fall. All of these are transmitted on the conveyor 124. If desired,a blower mechanism 131 can be furnished to discharge a draft of airunder the end of the conveyor 124 to blow leaves and trash away. Theheavier grapes or clusters fall directly into the receiving bin 127.Under some circumstances, the discharged material is not put into aseparate container 127, but is deposited directly onto a strip of paperor comparable material directly on the ground to continue drying asraisins as disclosed in our copending application.

Following the operation of the baton, the Wire and attached defruitedcanes are permitted to fall and the wire is subsequently reconditionedand replaced for the next years operation.

It is advisable in some instances, particularly where but a single wireis used close to the post 8, to provide means for retracting the batonwhen the baton is near the post. For that reason, we provide on theframe an advance sensing finger 136. When this finger 136 comes intocontact with the post 8, it operates a control 137 so that both of thecylinders 101 and 102 are actuated to move the baton from the positionshown in FIG. 4 into the inactive position shown in FIG. 5. The shield111 thus can go by the post without any difficulty. A trailing sensingfinger 138 subsequently contacts the post 8 and operates a sensingdevice 139 for reactivating the cylinders 101 and 102 and restoring thebaton to its projecting path of movement.

It is also possible, with a similar arrangement of the fruiting canesbut without severing them, to harvest the grapes with the same machine.This usually detaches the grapes in clusters or bunches with only asmall number of separate grapes.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of harvesting grapes comprising supporting a fruiting canein substantially a horizontal position,

and repeatedly striking said fruiting cane with successive blows, eachof said blows constituting an abrupt strike upon said fruiting cane frombelow and said successive blows being separated by interveningimpact-free periods and said successive blows being delivered at pointsspaced along the length of said fruiting cane.

2. A method as in claim 1 including the step of partially dehydratingonly the fruit and adjacent parts of said fruiting cane prior to saidstriking step.

3. A method as in claim 1 including the step of severing said fruitingcane from its vine prior to striking said fruiting cane.

4. A method as in claim 3 in which said severing step is performed fromabout one to seven days before striking said fruiting cane.

5. A method of harvesting grapes as in claim 1 in which said fruitingcane is grown along and supported in said horizontal position on ahorizontal wire and in which said striking step is abrupt and bodilyjerks said fruiting cane and said wire upwardly together whereby grapes011 said fruiting cane are detached therefrom.

Jacobs, vol. III, 1951, pp. 1799-1802, Interscience Publishers.

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Primary Examiner U.S. c1. X.R. 56-330

